Grant Guidelines

The Wieboldt Foundation limits its grant making to the Chicago metropolitan area. The foundation supports multi-issue community organizing groups that work in low-income neighborhoods, that are accountable to neighborhood residents, and through which people are empowered to have a major voice in shaping decisions that affect their lives.

We support organizations that:

Organize by enlisting and nurturing participation of a large number of neighborhood residents, organizations and institutions.

Recruit, develop, and formally train local leadership.

Enable local residents to develop an agenda, to devise strategies, and to carry out action effectively to address issues.

Demonstrate innovative strategies or create new local institutions that strengthen local community capacity.

Broaden their impact by working with other groups, whenever possible.

Are led by a board of directors that is representative of and accountable to community residents.

Show evidence of significant local fundraising.

The Wieboldt Foundation generally does not fund individuals, studies and research, conferences, capital development, or direct or social service programs.